Liquid discharge device for washing machines



Nov. 3, 1953 A. L. BRIGGS LIQUID DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Feb. 11. 1950 ISnncutor Allan L. Briggs Gttomvp Patented Nov. 3, 1953 LIQUID DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Allan L. Briggs, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Blackstone Corporation, Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 11, 1950, Serial No. 143,650

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-173) This invention relates to an improvement in washing machines and particularly to a device for use in the transfer or discharge of liquid from the tub of such a machine to another receptacle or drain opening.

In machines of the type to which the invention relates, it has been the practice to provide a flexible discharge hose. The hose was located exteriorly of the machine, its lower end being connected with the base of a liquid receiving tub through a suitable pump. The upper end was provided with a rigid hook-like nozzle which, when the structure was not in use, generally projected into a suitable aperture in the rim of the machine casing. It was possible to swing or move the flexible hose into a position such that the nozzle would project into another receptacle or a waste drain opening, and upon operation of the discharge pump, the contents of the tub could be removed. This hose, while entirely capable of performing its required work, is believed to be unsatisfactory from the standpoint of operator convenience, safety against improper discharge, damage, and appearance. The structure, being located exteriorly of the tub, constitutes a constant interference to an operator while employed in other washing operations. Due to this interference, it can become damaged or the nozzle disengaged from its support, the hose swinging down and, with the nozzle, resting on the floor. In this position the hose might be tripped over or at least damaged by trampling. Additionally, it is considered that, with the present stream-lined designing of washing machines, an exterior flex ible hose impairs the general design appearance. 1

It is an object of the invention to provide a discharge device for the tub of a Washing machine that adds to, rather than detracts from, the design appearance of such a machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a discharge device for a washing machine that, when not in use, is conveniently remote or out of the way of an operator while other washing operations are in progress.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an extendible discharge device that, in inoperative position, is retracted to lie partially within the machine casing, with the exposed portion so positioned as to obviate any possibility of damage thereto during other washing r operations.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of an extendible discharge device that in either position of use or storage cannot become damaged by an operator due not only to 2 the structural features thereof but to its arrangement and location on the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine embodying one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the exposed portion of the discharge device in position of rest, dotted lines suggesting swiveling into position of use;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the discharge device in retracted position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, showing the discharge device in extended operative position; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and shows means for determining the extent to which the discharge device may be extended into position of use.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the

reference numeral I 0 is employed to generally designate a washing machine to which one form of the invention is applied. For purposes of the present disclosure, the machine I 0 includes a casing l l in which the usual liquid receiving tub (not shown) is located. The casing is supported upon legs I 2. The upper portion of the casing may be rolled inwardly, as at l3, to provide a circular opening, closed by a cover I 4. The particular structure of the legs I2 is of no import to the present invention other than that at least one of the legs must be hollow to an extent to receive the discharge device. To this end, the leg shown in the front portion of Fig. 1 of the drawing is of generally tubular or channel shape and includes an upper portion [6 that, for design appearance, is of somewhat reduced proportions and provides a semi-circular end I 1 connected by flanges I 8, having ends l9 abutting the casing I2.

Centrally within the space 2| formed by the upper end l6, as well as the balance of the tubular leg, is located the discharge structure of the invention. This structure consists of a sleeve 22 which terminates at its upper end in a flared rim 23. This rim overlies the edge of an annular opening. formed in the top of the portion I6 of the leg. The sleeve extends downwardly within the leg at least to a point where the space 2| within the leg is sufiiciently large to permit mounting a bracket 28 which, being attached to the interior face of the leg in any suitable manner, serves to secure the sleeve against displacement or withdrawal from the leg. Attached to the lower end of the sleeve is one end of a flexible hose 21. Although not shown, the other end of this hose is conventionally joined to a water pump which in turn is connected with the base of the liquid receiving tub located within the casing II.

A tubular member 28 serves as an adjustable cooperative part of the discharge device. This member includes a vertically extending tube 29 that has telescoping engagement with the sleeve 22. Preferably at two pointsnamely, near its lower end and a suitable distance thereabovethe tube is formed with a slightly indented annular groove 3| which partially seats circular washers 32. The washers extend slightly beyond the tube and engage the inner walls of the sleeve 22, thus providing sufficient friction to enable moving the tube into any position within movement limits and without the possibility of inadvertent displacement from such position.

Near its upper end, sleeve 22 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed slots 33. A semicircular spring clip 34 is provided with inturned fingers 36, and when such spring is placed about the sleeve, said fingers project into the slots 33 into contact with the tube. The tube may be withdrawn from the sleeve to a point such that the uppermost washer 32 comes into contact with fingers 36. In this manner, the extent of withdrawal of the tube from the sleeve is determined. The exposed portion 31 of the member 28 constitutes a directional tube, being substantially at right angles to the tube 29, and terminates in a depending spout or nozzle 38. Between the bend 39 and the spout 38, portion 31 is curved to conform to the curve of the wall of the machine casing II, this being clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that during a washing operation the discharge structure will occupy an inoperative position such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position, the portion 31 is close to the machine casing and in nowise interferes with the placement or removal of articles in the machine. At such time as it is desired to withdraw the liquid contents from the machine tub, the portion 31 may be grasped and raised, thus in part withdrawing the tube 29 from the sleeve 22. Of course, the extent to which this withdrawal may take place is determined by the location of the uppermost washer 32 and the length of the tube 29 that is normally located within the sleeve 22. In the present disclosure, the only limit to which the nozzle 38 may be swiveled is determined by the rolled portion l3 of the casing. Thus, the nozzle may be moved a full 180 degrees in order to direct the discharge to a given receptacle or drain. It is also possible to swing the nozzle throughout a full circle when the member is extended, if for any reason this should be desired.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a sturdy, easily operated discharge for the liquid of a tub or a washing machine and that, although fully swingable to discharge into a nearby receptacle or drain, it may be moved to occupy a position such that only a portion thereof is exposed and such portion, by conforming to the contour of the machine casing, being conveniently out of the way, ofiers no hazard whatever to an operator and, in fact, lends to the attractiveness of the entire machine.

Although applicant has shown and described only one form of his invention, it will be apparent that the structure may be modified and adapted to washing machines other than the type shown and that it may be so constructed as to be extendable to a greater or lesser degree, and such modifications are therefore considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention insofar as they are set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing machine having a casing, legs supporting said casing and one of said legs being co-extensive and cooperating with said casing to form a closed vertical passageway; a liquid discharge device comprising a sleeve located in said passageway, means securing said sleeve with its upper end terminating at the upper end of said one leg, a retractable tubular member, one portion of said member having telescoping engagement with said sleeve and being movable into a position of concealment within said sleeve. another portion of said member being disposed substantially at right angles to said one portion and terminating in a discharge spout, means providing a liquid seal between said sleeve and said member in all relative positions, and further means carried by said sleeve for limiting the extent of withdrawal of said first mentioned portion therefrom.

2. A liquid discharge device for the tub of a washing machine that is mounted on a plurality of supports, said device comprising a sleeve secured within one of the supports of said machine and at one end being adapted to have connection with a suitable discharge mechanism of said tub, a tubular member, one portion of said member projecting into the other end of said sleeve and having telescoping relationship therewith, another portion of said member being disposed substantially at right angles to the first mentioned portion and terminating in a discharge spout, an annular indenture in said one portion, a washer carried by said indenture and providing liquid sealing engagement in all relative positions as between said sleeve and said one portion, a spring clip carried by said sleeve, ends of said clip projecting through openings in said sleeve into pressure contact with said one portion, the ends of said clip serving to control the freedom of telescoping movement of said member and to be engageable with said washer and limit the extent of said telescoping movement with respect to said sleeve in one direction, the other portion of said member limiting its movement in the opposite direction.

ALLAN L. BRIGGS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 531,665 Ufer Jan. 1, 1895 1,006,577 Fulford Oct. 1'7, 1911 1,785,577 Dunham Dec. 16, 1930 2,205,082 Callaghan et a1 June 18, 1940 2,303,940 Kuhn Dec. 1, 1942 

